Ethereal Seals Blog Update 4/12/21

Posted on April 12, 2021 by Energyflux2012 under Uncategorized

It’s been a while since I shared an update. Editing book one of Ethereal Seals, working on the manuscript for book two, a long beta read, lots of health and healing research, plus increasing hours at my day job—I’ve been quite busy.

Edits and Revisions

After another read through of Blade of Dragons, I’ve finished edits as they relate to changes made in book two: Heart of Dragons. Most noticeable was Gerald Highmane’s character arc, changed from a minor villain to an antihero with his own story.

I’ve added breadcrumbs and Easter eggs—messages if you will—from certain authors I admire, like Arnold Ehret and David Hawkins. The majority of these messages relate to spirituality and health. ~~Needless to say, Ethereal Seals is a New Age life improvement book disguised as a science fantasy.~~

Publication

I am satisfied with how the book reads. After passing it along to a professional editor and/or proofreader, the manuscript should be set for publication. Then I’ll need to find a cover artist to polish up the book cover.

I’m hoping to expand upon my mailinglist and perhaps hire a freelance agent to help spread word of mouth before I officially publish. This may take a while, but I’m in no hurry. Book two—and perhaps book three—will be well on its way by the time book one is released.

Exploring Atläs

It’s been fun revising the manuscript from its older self. I’ve realized there’s too much worldbuilding potential to squeeze the story into a trilogy. Four or five books is what I’m aiming for. If I could describe Heart of Dragons in one word it would be thus:

Exploration.

There’s plenty of worldbuilding with new kingdoms, villains, and protagonists. I delve into Gerald’s backstory more and explore his connection to the other characters. Tarie Beyworth and Pepper Slyhart also see a sizable degree of character growth. The prose retains its rich worldbuilding, coupled with tense action scenes and romantic feel.

Maps and Word Count

I’ve also finished the beta map for book two. I use a program called Wonderdraft, an excellent program for DIY fantasy maps. I’ll plan to do an article on the program soon.

Unlike Blade of Dragons, set at 130k words, book two will hover closer to 150k. The theory behind the word length is: if your readers loved book one, they won’t mind—and may love—the content in the second installment. Many writers have told me you can take more risks with book two. Whether or not it works, we’ll see.

I’ve enjoyed helping my beta with his second installment of his Eternal Defenders series, a classic fantasy story. As I may have mentioned, sci-fi and fantasy are among my favorite genres to read. There’s something about Thomas’ series that grips me, perhaps the way he structures his world. It also reminds me of some older video games, like Warcraft, Zelda, and Morrowind. He’s come a long way in improving his writing, so be sure to check him out here.

The past several weeks have been brutal for me, from a healing perspective. I’ve finished several short water fasts, plus a nigh 3-day water and salt only fast. My gut felt all twisted up, aching, yet by the time I finished, I felt renewed. Reborn. I’ve also hired a trainer at a local gym to help me rebuild my body on feeding days.

Though still a neophyte to cleansing, the more I read about it, the more I realize how crucial it is. For everyone. We’ve been inundated with so many toxins, poor lifestyles, and childhood traumas that it takes effort to dig through it all. The more I detox, the better my creativity and ability to brainstorm and worldbuild.

Some of the books I’ve read through recently on healing and nutrition are up on my Goodreads page.

It isn’t my passion, but I’m grateful that it’s a low-stress retail job—with a health food niche added in. I’ve applied for additional hours in other departments. With the added income, I’ll manage my expenses better and pay off my ~~worthless college degree~~ student loans.

Thanks for reading. May your cup overflow with abundance, creativity, and joy.

Interested in joining my mailing list? Members will receive free poetry, special deals, messages to inspire and empower your life, and short stories. You’ll also get the latest news on projects.
Aspectä rey’lief, fair reader, and thanks again for reading!
—Ed R. White

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Brandon Sanderson Lecture 2020 Notes

Posted on April 2, 2021 by Energyflux2012 under Uncategorized

By popular demand, I am reposting these lecture notes given by Brandon Sanderson of last year.

Hello, my readers, I’ve got quite a gift to share with you today. The other week, I watched Brandon Sanderson’s 2020 lectures on creative writing. The whole playlist runs several hours, but I’ve put together a concise list of tips that I found helpful. Enjoy.

(Note, the lecture # is just how I organized the notations, not which lecture videos they relate to.)

Lecture 1: On Writing

Always chase publication and book writing with a passion, but don’t be attached to it.
Just enjoy telling stories.
Try things, if they don’t work, try something else.
Pantsiers vs plotters; both work.
Know when to ignore the rules or the professionals.
With experience, you gain intuitive writing ability.
Make good habits for writing consistently. (This tip I bolded for emphasis)

Lecture 2: Plot and Character

Plot, character, and setting are glued together by conflict.
Setting is the least important of the three.
Stories make promises.
Introduction shows the promises.
Remember to detail a character’s desires and goals.
Indicate what kind of plot the story is about.
Promise–>progress–>payoffs.
Plot expansion twists can work.
Check out the Hero’s’ journey by Joseph Campbell

Lecture 3: Plot and Character II

Start the intro fast and explosive.
Sympathize the audience with your protagonist ASAP.
Multiple POV cast is a double-edged sword. It is good for variety, but readers will polarize towards certain characters and dislike others.
Subverting expectations and promises isn’t a good idea.
Exceeding expectations can make some subversions tolerable.
Escalate rather than undermine expectations.
Satisfying endings are better than a twist.
Writers’ block solution: don’t stop writing, finish the story.
Epistularies at start of chapters is a viable strategy.

Lecture 4: Magical Systems and Worldbuilding

Sanderson Law One: your ability to solve problems with magic in a satisfying way is directly proportional to how well the reader understands said magic.
Soft magic: unknown cost or outcome of a magic.
Sanderson Law Two: flaws and limitations are more interesting than powers.
Sanderson Law Three: before adding something new to your magic or setting, see if you can instead expand what you have.
Use world building in service of character and story building, not solely for showing off or building a world.
Use more concrete methods through the eyes of the characters to worldbuild.

Lecture 5: Characters, Dialog, and Humor

Characters as living tools to tell your story, the plot’s message.
Establish empathy between characters and readers.
Show others characters liking them.
Establish motivation: show something they want, but can’t have. Connect personal desires of a character to the plot.
Show character progress. How are they going to change? Show flaws or the journey taken.
Characters ruled by: likability, proactivity, competence.
Iconic hero does not change during the course of a story.
Flaws: things to be overcome.
Handicaps: the character does not have control over these.
-Quirks: things that make the character imperfect, but unique.
Don’t write characters to a role.
Avoid bland monologues.
Dialog should convey likability, proactivity, competence, character arc, motivation, and humor.
Dialect: is a personal choice, but less is better.
Use dialog beats to slow down scene to focus on subtext.
Telepathy: italics with ‘said’ tag, but up to author’s choice.
Women in the Refrigerator: characters (especially female) killed off, tortured, or raped to further the plot or protagonist’s arc.
Killing a character properly fulfills an arc, or it is the direct cause of the character’s choices.
Wikipad, Dropbox, Hemingway are good programs to use.
Humor is difficult and subjective.
Comic drops to cut tension and induce humor.
Comic juxtaposition: contrasting qualities to create humor.
Repetitious scenario can create humor.
Rule of three cycles of humor with gradual escalation.

Lecture 6: Publishing Traditionally and Indie

Agents take 15% publishing profit, but do a lot of the business work.
Query letter->synopsis–>sample chapters->full manuscript.
Vanity press charges money to publish your novel. Stay away from them and agents who funnel to them.
A good agent will never charge you money.
Book offers with loan advances 10-20k for new authors split between costs.
The bigger the advance budget for publishing a novel, the better the publisher push.
Editors want to help you improve the story and make suggestions.
You can pay back advance and cancel contract if you change your mind.
Indie published authors get 70% of profit.
Platform writing via blog posts or website is important to have an online presence.
Need a good cover for your novel (300-500$ suggested).
Also need good copyediting (0.007-0.009cents per word suggested).
Content edits (0.012-0.015 cents per word).
Proofreading (0.003 cents per word).
Cross author promotions with other authors is a good idea.
Mailing lists like Mailchimp are important to form an audience and fan base.
Recommended Amazon price for epub novels is 2.99 to $9.99.
Be wary of scams or vanity presses.
Amazon is now a pay-to-play for advertising ebooks: thousands of dollars a month to advertise.
10-15% of cover contract for Hardcover sales.
6-8% of cover Paperback sales.
10% of cover Tradepaper sales.
As a traditionally published author, you want advances that you can earn out in a couple of years.
Indie publishing undercuts markets.
Less $ for lower word count, more $ for higher on indie publishing.
Book signing to improve reputation and make connections, but it is a lot of work and money to pay for travel, rent, etc.
Sales within first week is significant, especially for best seller list.
Niche genres: mashing two genres together.
Free short stories do work to promote for indie publishers, but not for profit.

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Postures for Better Creativity, Health for Writers and Artists

Posted on March 10, 2021 by Energyflux2012 under Uncategorized

As writers, we often sit in front of a laptop or a book to hone our craft. Whether its reading, writing, or something between, the art requires a significant amount of sitting. However, sitting for lengthy periods can strain the nervous system and thought process. Over the years, I’ve discovered several postures that have helped me endured long writing sessions. If you’re curious about the connection between writing, reading, creativity, and movement, read on!

After my previous post on creativity, I thought I’d elaborate on how best to optimize it. It’s hard to enjoy a sore back, or that feeling of stiffness from long periods of sitting. With biohacking as one of my passions next to writing, I’ve listed some of my favorite sitting postures. Feel free to add your own modifications to these.

1. Vajrasana, Rock Pose, Thunderbolt Pose

One of my favorite sitting poses, vajrasana, otherwise known as thunderbolt or rock, stretches the lower body as you rest. You perform this pose by kneeling and sitting on your feet. This shifts the weight away from the back and onto the knees and ankles. This pose is excellent for concentration and creativity. You can make the pose easier by placing a cushion between your buttocks and your feet.

I’ve written several articles, stories, and blog posts while in this pose. It’s reliable and powerful.

2. Malasana, Garland Pose

Malasana, also known as garland squat, is excellent for the hips and lower body. After long bouts of sitting, I usually do this pose to stretch any stiff joints. You come into a deep resting squat and allow your pelvic floor to relax towards the ground. Press your elbows between your knees. This can be a tricky pose for most people to do after decades of sitting in a chair. You can place a blanket under your heels to make it easier.

Definitely one of my favorites, as the benefits of this biohacking pose, or squatting in general, are numerous.

3. Headstand

The headstand hold is a new posture I’ve adopted for creativity and biohacking. Inversions are incredible for the body, especially the brain. Headstands improve focus, balance hormones, boost creativity, among other things. I use a wall to support myself, but eventually I’ll progress to unassisted headstands.

The awe and euphoria of a headstand cannot be expressed in words, and it’s led to some major boosts to creativity. Not to mention, it helps me problem solve plot and character issues in my stories and in real life.

4. Deadhang

A simple stretch that isn’t a yoga pose as much as it is a calisthenic exercise. Hanging from a bar, as if to do a pullup, has great benefits. For one, it decompresses the spine, good after long periods of sitting. A few seconds is enough to reap the benefits; my calisthenics mentor suggests at least 30 to 60 seconds.

5. Spinning

When you were a kid, you probably played ‘merry-go-round’ with a partner. Spinning clockwise promotes vitality, and children know it all too well. It helps remove any stagnation that may have built up during long bouts of sitting. Begin slowly, maybe 8 revolutions a day. I do about 13, my palms facing downwards to ground myself, and will gradually progress to 33 revolutions.

6. Inclined Bed Rest

Even when I sleep, I stretch my body. Sleeping at an incline does wonders for the brain and spinal cord. It reduces pressure on the organs and improves sleep, while allowing the lymphatic system to drain. Elevate the pillow-side of the bed a few inches to get the benefits. Since adopting this practice, my creativity has seen tremendous improvements.

7. Rebounding

Jumping on a trampoline or rebounder is fun, and excellent for the lymphatic system. It comes as no surprise, as we all hopped on beds when we were children. Rebounding, along with headstands and spinning, should dramatically improve one’s spatial awareness and blood flow to the brain. A biohacking miracle. Better circulation means better creativity, more energy, and stronger ambitions to complete that creative project in mind.

Sometimes staring at a blank page doesn’t solve the issue of writers’ block. We, as humans beings, are creative creatures and we love to design. But we also like to move. To bend, stretch, and test our limits.

To feel human, as many yogis do.

Remember, have inspiration in all things, from taking a walk to writing a story, journaling, biohacking, or painting a canvas. After all, we are the authors of our own life stories. When we lie on our deathbed, let’s remember all the fun we had: the creation, the movement, and the joy that comes with it all.

Do your practice and all is coming.
– Sri K Patthabi Jois

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New Thoughts on Creativity

Posted on March 3, 2021 by Energyflux2012 under character design, philosophy, spirituality, world building, writing

“Creative people are curious, flexible, persistent, and independent, with a tremendous spirit of adventure and a love of play.”
—Henri Matisse

Throughout time, we humans have expressed creativity with a passion. Whether through art, writing, music, or other media, creativity is what drives us to live.

To aspire to new heights.

But what exactly is creativity? How do we define this exotic beast and its role in our lives?

“Creativity is defined as the tendency to generate or recognize ideas, alternatives, or possibilities that may be useful in solving problems, communicating with others, and entertaining ourselves and others.”
―Robert E. Franken

Creativity and imagination. These elusive terms are difficult to pin down. Human imagination shows terrific promise. It performs miracles while participating in humanity’s gruesome sins. Human vision has no limits, save the ones we place. With enough ingenuity and patience, the strength of creativity can move mountains. Channeling one’s creativity is paramount as humans. It is our birthright and sets us apart from lower life forms.

Who uses creativity?

Creativity is often affiliated with writers, painters, musicians, and so on. Yet imagination is so much more—even business people can use it. Some say creativity is an extension of free will, akin to our souls playing with our true divine nature, as co-creators of reality.

The Divine Wisdom of Imagination

What is creativity without a guiding hand to steer imagination’s wild nature? There is a certain degree of divine wisdom that handles the process. It’s an unconscious, intuitive ability, one that our rational minds cannot comprehend. One simply picks up a pen or brush and begins painting. At some point, we no longer create art—the art creates us.

All art becomes an inner reflection of our soul.

The Components of Creativity

Here’s a diagram that details the facets of creativity:

Expertise is the logical, restrictive, and straightforward intellect. A left-brained category.
Creative-thinking is the right-brained category of imagination, fertility, and freedom.
Motivation is the commitment factor—the long-term objective; the journey wrought by the mind.

When these three categories mesh together, creativity ignites within us.

The Global Creativity Gap

Here’s another comparative study by Adobe regarding creativity and how people view it:

It is ironic that our world values creativity, yet most don’t live up to their creative potential. We live in a society of mechanized production rather than free imagination.

What will the future hold for humanity if we continue at this pace? Will it change? How?

Here are some pointers on upping your creative game. Forming a routine with these steps—along with commitment—could provide dividends.

1. Do Something You Enjoy

It was Einstein himself who proposed this idea. Performing a task that brings fulfillment can help ease stress, clearing the mind. Whatever it may be, include it in your schedule for that creative boost.

2. Do Nothing

Work and rest go hand-in-hand. Sometimes the greatest ideas come to those who unplug from our busy world.

“There is virtue in work and there is virtue in rest. Use both and overlook neither.”
—Alan Cohen

If you’re out of ideas, try relaxing or meditating. Practice mindfulness meditation for the best results. Here’s an older article I wrote on the science behind it. Sometimes when we rest, our minds our fermenting, priming for a creative surge.

3. Exercise

Exercise encourages body circulation. Long walks are a great way to feed your brain and stimulate creative juices. This case study alone suggests that walking improves creativity.

4. Embrace the Absurd

Sometimes the craziest ideas have merit. Many writers and artists, like Lewis Carroll and Edward Lear, made use of the inane to fuel their creative works. Sometimes, from the depths of absurdity, genius can emerge. It can’t hurt, can it?

5. Another illustrative Diagram

Here’s a chart summarizing ways to maximize your creative potential:

Creativity is an elusive mistress, full of mystery and the arcane. Discovering the foundations of imagination may reveal untold secrets to humankind. In an age rife with conflict and misery, perhaps the solution is surrendering to the creative child within us.

That said, I’ll finish with one last inspiring quote:

“The truly creative mind in any field is no more than this: A human creature born abnormally, inhumanly sensitive. To him… a touch is a blow, a sound is a noise, a misfortune is a tragedy, a joy is an ecstasy, a friend is a lover, a lover is a god, and failure is death. Add to this cruelly delicate organism the overpowering necessity to create, create, create — so that without the creating of music or poetry or books or buildings or something of meaning, his very breath is cut off from him. He must create, must pour out creation. By some strange, unknown, inward urgency he is not really alive unless he is creating.”
―Pearl S. Buck

Interested in joining my mailing list? Members will receive free poetry, special deals, messages to inspire and empower your life, and short stories. You’ll also get the latest news on projects.
Aspectä rey’lief, fair reader, and thanks for reading!
—Ed R. White

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My Favorite Music While Writing

Posted on February 19, 2021 by Energyflux2012 under music, writing, writing tips, writingcommunity

Music has a powerful influence on the human brain, particularly with creativity. The mileage varies from person to person, as some prefer silence—which is its own type of music. I’ve found that my creative process increases when I play certain tunes. In this post, I’ll share with you some of the genres and bands that I listen to.

I listen to different types of music depending on my mood, activity, and environment. In this way, I view my playlists as a toolbox, allowing me to select particular tools to help me with an activity. That said, sometimes I deviate, but the list below gives a general idea of what I prefer and why.

1. Epic Music

Who doesn’t like epic or opera music? These tunes encourage excitement, creativity, and wonder in my brain. When I’m writing a jaw-dropping scene or a tense battle, this music is ideal. I like the bands: Two Steps from Hell, Audiomachine, and Ivan Torrent.

2. Chill Lounge

This is a slower, melodic music that allows me to space out and relax. When I’m talking with friends, co-writers, blogging, or writing a soothing scene, chill lounge is my first choice. Bands I like here are: Jjos, Alexander King, and Electro Pump.

3. Smooth Jazz

Smooth jazz speaks for itself. Like chill lounge, this genre helps me unwind, but without losing too much concentration in my writing. I view it as the middle way between epic and chill; it is also great for romance scenes between characters. I don’t have a particular band that I listen to with this genre—all smooth jazz is good!

4. Lofi

A genre of music that I discovered recently, lofi has happy tunes with a steady beat. I find this music to be best for travel or adventure scenes without a lot of action. Some lofi is very beautiful and helps me when I’m in a creativity jam. I find myself listening to oriental lofi when I write Tempest of the Dragon for that East Asian feel. There’s also video game lofi that I enjoy. No particular bands here.

5. Classical

Classical is a nice way to unwind while, like smooth jazz, keeps a steady beat to maintain concentration during writing. Sometimes I alternate between smooth jazz and classical. I enjoy: Chopin, Mozart, Vivaldi, and many more.

6. Anime/J-pop

This is cartoony, upbeat music that is perfect when writing comic scenes between characters or working on Tempest of the Dragon. Some of these tunes can also be similar to epic music. Favorites are: Kogarashi, Senso, Sakuzyo, and Konbanwa.

7. Progressive House

Progressive house is a melodic, curious genre (somewhat like trance in my opinion) that “raises my spirits to new heights” and gives me energy. I find this genre to be good when I need to brainstorm or work for very, very long periods of time. It’s basically audio coffee—if that makes sense. I like: Shingo Nakamura, Epicuros, and Gregory Esayan.

8. Chiptune

Remember that music you heard when playing Mega Man, Zelda, or Mario as a kid on your NES? That’s chiptune! This genre had been forgotten for years since its introduction in the 80s and 90s, but now it’s making a comeback. Chiptune has a comic flair like J-pop, but with a swift beat. It’s a good music for fast-moving, action or battle scenes. My favorites are: Tombofry, Rolemusic, and Sasakure.UK.

9. Psybient

Psybient is an…acquired taste. It has a deep, alien feel that works for bizarre or mysterious scenes. The music may leave you wondering about yourself, your characters, and where they are all going. My top choices are: SiebZehn, E-Mantra, and Johnny Blue.

10. Dark/Deep Tribal

I listen to this genre if I need to write a shocking, or dark atmosphere to encourage visceral emotion in the reader. Most deep tribal also have a steady drum beat, likened to the heart, and are mysterious like psybient—or even pseudo-erotic for intense romance scenes. Some artists I’ve listened to are: DJ WOPE, Moshic, and Mundeep.

Yes, I listen to a lot of music. Each genre holds a unique function to me, as I connect with the tunes on an intimate, and almost spiritual level. The music alone can transport me to another reality, engrossing my mind in its creative juices. I love music, as much as I enjoy writing.

What types of music do you listen to? I’d love to hear in the comments below. Thanks for reading!

I’m currently expanding my platform onto Mailchimp to develop a mailing community. Members will receive free poetry, special deals, and short stories once Mailchimp is up and running. For more details on my current projects, visit my portfolio. I also have an online store, selling t-shirt designs with quotes from characters in Blade of Dragons. Many are inspirational and spiritual in nature. Be sure to check them out here.

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Fantasy Month Survey!

Posted on February 10, 2021 by Energyflux2012 under Fantasy fiction, writing, writingcommunity

It’s time for #fantasymonth again, and I’d like to thank @A. M. Reynwood for reminding me. This year’s theme is fandoms. Being such a broad category, I decided to do a survey of questions.

1. What Are Your Favorite Types of Fantasy-ish Genres?

When it comes to fantasy worlds, I enjoy straight-up fantasy, science-fiction, adventure, with a little romance or dark fantasy thrown in.

2. Are There Any Particular Titles You Enjoy Most?

Way too many to list, but what comes to mind are…

Video games
- The Legend of Zelda
- Dark Souls
- Metroid Prime
Novels
- The Lord of the Rings
- Eragon
- Dragonlance
- Mistborn
Movies
- Thor
- Star Wars
- The Hobbit
- The Matrix
Anime
- Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha Strikers
- Rurouni Kenshin
- DBZ

3. What Are Your Favorite Types of Protagonists?

Anyone with strong passions, evokes empathy, is competent, and carries a legendary sword, firearm, or token that sets them apart from others. A flawed hero is always more interesting than a near-perfect one.

4. Antagonists?

Villains who aren’t afraid to get in your face or make you hate them. Villains who aren’t walking cliches with their own mission and inner journey. A good villain, in my eyes, will also evoke empathy.

5. Favorite Fantasy Media? Books, Video Games, Movies, Comics, Etc?

Softcover novels.

6. Preferred Fantasy Tropes?

Elves, dragons, food, and magic. You can see more at my recent blog post.

7. If You Could Envision Yourself As One Protagonist, Who Would It Be? Why?

Link from the Legend of Zelda. He’s courageous, carries a legendary sword, and is soft-spoken (if he talks at all). I tend to be quiet, but I take initiative, and own a few sword replicas.

8. If You Could Only Bring One Kind of Item With You on a Quest, What Would It Be?

Good food, and lots of it!

9. Your Favorite Type of [insert legendary weapon here]? Swords? Guns? Hammers? Etc?

A tie between swords and guns for me. Ideally a “bladegun” like what my protagonist carries in Ethereal Seals.

There you have it, my answers for fantasymonth! If you’re reading this post, and you feel ambitious, answer the survey questions on your own blog or in the comments section below. I’d love to hear from you!

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Writing Update: 02/03/21

Posted on February 3, 2021 by Energyflux2012 under Uncategorized

I must confess, the pleasure of world-building is indescribable. Creating entire universes from thin air brings joy to my soul. Purpose. It drives me into the moment, grounds me to my body, mind, and soul.

I’ve begun another revision pass to book 1, Blade of Dragons, after the updates to some of the character arcs. The manuscript is, otherwise, polished for a beta manuscript and should be ready for publication soon.

Polishing the Series Now or Later?

That said, I may hold off on releasing Blade of Dragons until later. Using a strategy that Michael J Sullivan recommends, I would polish the rest of the series first, allowing world-building and plot interconnection to weave the stories together. Due to Ethereal Seals’ heavy world-building, my intuition wants me to lean this way.

When finished, this will enable me to use book 1 as a promo story, setting up sales for the rest of the series. The downside is it will take considerable time before any of the stories get released. For me, that isn’t a huge issue, for I view writing as a therapeutic and spiritual exercise.

The Merits of Creative Writing

After 2020—the horrendous year everyone wants to forget—I’ve come to value my writing more on its merits. It grounded me amidst the chaos, kept me occupied during lockdown, and gave me inspiration. Excitement for life. Looking back on 2020, I see only achievements, what I have accomplished.

Work on Book 2: Heart of Dragons

Heart of Dragons has been surprising considering the changes in the character arcs. Fortunately, the story-character progression is a lot more intuitive and organized than it was in book 1. In Blade of Dragons, I had little choice, as certain scenes had to play out for the reader.

Book 2 feels more wholesome, and its progress is strengthening book 1. Heart of Dragons expands on the world-building expressed in Blade of Dragons, and this created a massive science fantasy universe, one that had me wondering if I’m in over my head. That’s one of the joys of world-building, ha?

Regardless, the alpha manuscript from years prior is reading better. I have no doubt this will be a series with a dedicated niche of readers when I’m finished.

Book 3: Soul of Dragons

The rough manuscript from years ago hasn’t aged well, and I have yet to examine it in detail. Still, it has a treasure trove of excellent ideas I intend to draw from. With changes to the first two books, Soul of Dragons will take some drastic turns. I am excited to work on it once the first two books are set.

Book 4: Empress of Dragons

Book 4 is still in an abstract state, but I have a loose idea on how to outline it. It’s possible I will expand on it and build a fifth book: War of Dragons, if the Divine Spirit guides me that way. I do have some ideas in mind, new continents and planets for the protagonists to explore, plot twists, and so forth. These will tie into the story introduced in book 1.

Supplementary Stories

The Ethereal Seals universe is vast, and I may produce series that take place in different parts of the cosmos. These books will make references to Pepper Slyhart’s story on Atlas, among other things. In the meanwhile, there’s Tempest of the Dragon and Muffins and Magic, two standalone stories that came to me during the last few NaNoWriMO contests.

I’ll get to them eventually!

…

Maybe.

Tempest of the Dragon

Kyosenko, a samurai outcast in Japan, discovers his destiny with a girl named Mina, a cursed Black Serpent in disguise. He vows to protect the ensorcelled girl with his life, venturing with her across ancient Japan—to a place where Mina may find salvation. But there is another threat, an organization that wishes to capture Mina and abuse her arcane powers.

The Kaji Clan.

Set in ancient Japan (or China, if I decide to change it) the story and world-building is a lot simpler than Ethereal Seals. It was a breeze to write during NaNo and I enjoy the characters and story I’ve come up with for it.

Muffins and Magic

This story is a contemporary fantasy with humor intermixed. I don’t have a logline or description of it yet, but the protagonist is a baker with magical powers. He defeats challenges and enemies with his delicious cooking skills, winning their hearts. Unlike Blade of Dragons or Tempest of the Dragon, most of the conflict in Muffins and Magic is half-hearted, geared towards a casual audience.

Right now, I’m making good progress on my newest book, Stormbringer, by Isbabel Cooper. It has enjoyable world-building, characters, and plot. Even some steamy romance. I plan to do a book review when I finish, and read more of her books, as I need further exposure to the fantasy-romance niche. Unfortunately, I can’t write any fantasy stories without some romance subplot. It’s a curse.

In other news, I’ve been going to the gym and meditating more. I may pick up sketching again at some point too.

Blogging Update

From this point, I want to shift the purpose of my blog a little. I’m aiming for more of an intuitive and creative experience—not just for me, but for you too, dear reader. I’ve also considered vlogging and podcasting, but not anytime soon, if I do decide to do them.

Instead of forcing the muse to write mechanically, I’ll allow it to work through me. No one should pretend to be something they’re not, nor conform to a system. As cosmic witness, this will undoubtedly produce blogging content of a more beautiful, if esoteric, nature. That said, I cannot predict when the muse will emerge, or for how long. I ask for your patience, dear reader. Thank you.

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Taking Some Time to Rest

Posted on January 18, 2021 by Energyflux2012 under Uncategorized

Quick post today. I’ve decided to take a break from blogging to recharge my batteries. 2020 was a rough year—for all of us. I’ve decided to catch up on some other activities, in addition to starting a beta read with Tomas Grizzly.

My meditations are going well, and I am doing several bodily and spiritual cleanses to prepare myself for this new year. It had me thinking: what will 2021 bring? Will wee see peace and truth return to society? What new challenges will arise? I have no doubt that all of us will be able to face them. Head on.

Change is what inspires us. It encourages growth. Development. We cannot force change, only surrender to it and learn to adapt. As Bruce Lee said:

“Empty your mind; be formless, shapeless – like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup, you put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle, you put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.”

I’ve started on a new science-fiction book called Hyperion. It has great world building, and the concepts therein are fascinating. I have several more books on my 2021 reading list to go over. Exciting.

Book 2 of Ethereal Seals: Heart of Dragons has begun. The alpha manuscript is underway, with some exciting plot and character developments that old beta readers of book 1 will enjoy. Once I get the manuscript polished, I’ll be looking for betas for that.

My goal is to do three to five beta manuscripts before I publish the first book, Blade of Dragons. This way, I can interconnect the books better than if I did them one by one. This is a strategy that Brandon Sanderson recommends in his lectures on writing epic fantasy.

Thanks for reading. Enjoy the wintry weather, and may peace and prosperity find you.

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Aspectä rey’lief, fair reader, thanks for reading.
—Ed R. White

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What Are My Favorite Fantasy Tropes?

Posted on January 3, 2021 by Energyflux2012 under Fantasy fiction, world building, writing

In fantasy, you have a plethora of tropes that are reused; most of them never lose their charm. Everything from elves, dwarves, dragons, and halflings! In science fantasy, the scope expands to robots, cyborgs, aliens—the sky’s the limit.

These formulas represent time-tested values that readers adore. Personally, I have my own set of fantasy tropes that excite me. Below, I’ll discuss some of my favorite ones, not in any specific order. I’ll focus strictly on the fantasy elements, but they can be applied to sci-fi too.

Who doesn’t like elves? An elf—by general definition—is beautiful, slender, graceful, and powerful. Elves have played a large role in fantasy since the Tolkien days—and continue to do so. Usually as a force for good, elves help maintain the order of the world they live in, often living in cities that are in harmony with nature. There are also dark elves, or drow, which are an evil-aligned race.

Another favorite of mine, dragons are the epitome of power, feral beauty, and arcane mystery. While elves are usually good, dragons have played a multitude of roles ranging from villains, to advisors, and even heroes. Dragons are a wild card in how they have been used throughout all fiction, let alone cultures across the globe.

Magic is a whimsical topic—and a detailed analysis of such a trope is clearly beyond the scope of this humble article—that symbolizes the human imagination. Anything from fireballs, to teleportation, flight, or telepathy falls under this category. The price of using magic can be just as fascinating as what it produces. An author can conjure whatever he or she wishes via magic; that’s what makes it such an unpredictable and exciting trope. Brandon Sanderson does a wonderful job explaining it in his lectures.

Alchemy is the transmutation of an object into something else. Lead to gold is a classic example, but you can make other things like herbal elixirs too. In fantasy settings, authors often use alchemy as a profession characters use to make a living, a means to heal others via healing salves, or—even better—a plot device like in Mistborn. In other ways, alchemy can be a religion or way of life that shapes a character’s decisions.

I enjoy reading about the different types of civilizations in a fantasy story. An elven society may differ from one book to another, for example. How do the people function in said society? What roles does said society play in the plot? From culture and economy, you can derive things like currency, prejudice, personal values, and even a magic system.

Food heavily influences culture, reflecting how the world is assimilated by the protagonist and his/her society. Bonus points to authors with unique fruits or herbs with special nutritive properties. Like alchemy, food can play a big role in the plot. Those feast scenes make any reader salivate, and healing potions can change the course of a battle.

Who says a writer should stop at elves and dragons? How about a mix of the two with its own racial name, abilities, and cultural values? Creativity can work its own magic and weave beautiful fiction. Magical beasts can be ally or foe for the protagonist—and such creatures help shape the conflict of the plot, giving depth to the reader’s immersion.

In Blade of Dragons, I turned my protagonist into a mythical creature: a half-dragon with draconic abilities shunned by society. It gives my heroine depth and adds conflict, intrigue, and creative depth.

A fictional world is only limited by the author’s imagination. Each new story is a dive into untold depths. That’s one of the reasons I enjoy reading and writing fiction so much.

What are your preferred fantasy tropes? What are your thoughts on elves, dragons, and magic? I’d love to hear in the comments below.

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Describing Sounds in Writing

Posted on December 31, 2020 by Energyflux2012 under essay, writing, writing tips

When we think of the word sound, the last thing we may associate it with are words and phrases. However, sound and writing go hand-in-hand. Recently, I learned from a writing class how important sounds can be for strengthening prose—what a shocker!

In this article, I’ll discuss the various definitions and techniques that are often used. Many thanks to Mark Nichol for the awesome advice!

1. Alliteration

Alliteration is the pattern of multiple words in the same phrase with the same consonant sound. Here’s an example:

“Squaring our performances with our promises, we will proceed to the fulfillment of the party’s mission.”

Notice how performances and promises ring together? It provokes the reader subconsciously, so to associate those two concepts together and highlighting a theme of success. Process and party could also be associated.

“They have served tour after tour of duty in distant, different, and difficult places.”

In this passage, distant, different, and difficult highlights the arduous adventure being described.

2. Assonance

Similar to alliteration, assonance involves the repetition of certain vowels, especially in stressed syllables, but with different consonant sounds.

“Men sell the wedding bells.”

“Go and mow the lawn.”

In the above examples, sell and bells followed by go and mow are what highlight the assonance.

3. Consonance

Can you guess what this term implies? That’s right, the repetition of consonants, particularly at the end of a word.

“Their maid has spread the word of their deed.”

“Cheer and beer go with sorrow and tomorrow.”

Here, you have maid, spread, word, and deed. Cheer and beer with sorrow and tomorrow make another pair. The word pairs doesn’t have to rhyme, only share the final sound—rhyming comes later. 🙂

4. Onomatopoeia

When you have words that translate as sound effects, this is onomatopoeia.

“A splash disturbed the hush of the droning afternoon.”

“Her heels clacked on the hardwood floor.”

5. Repetition

Repetition is, well, repeating a word or phrase to emphasize the message of a passage.

“When we arrive at the store, we will buy something. When we buy something, we will pay for it. When we pay for it, we will take it home.”

“When I find you, I will catch you. When I catch you, I will cook you. When I cook you, I will eat you.”

These examples creates a percussive effect on the reader’s mind to push the meaning of the passage.

6. Rhyme

This one should be a given, or else the writer may be forgiven (hahaha ehem…). Poetry often makes use of rhymes, but normal prose can too! In fact, here’s a nifty tool I discovered that helps with rhyme words. Enjoy.

7. Rhythm

With rhythm, the prose is altered to create tempo.

“The eager coursing of the strident hounds
And the sudden pursuit of the mounted men
Drove the bounding prey ever on.”

Here’s an example taken from Dr. Seuss:

“I’m Yertle the Turtle!
Oh, marvelous me!
For I am the ruler
of all that I see!”

Shorter tempo creates a faster rhythm, and vice versa. With the proper rhythm, sentence length, and prose structure, a writer can add depth and even emotion to prose.

When we describe sounds, we lean on the other four senses (touch, taste, smell, and sight) to paint a picture. Here’s a list of ways to describe sound in writing. Credit goes to Amanda Patterson.

Words Describing General Sounds

audible – a sound that is loud enough to hear
broken – a sound that has spaces in it
emit – to make a sound
grinding – a sound of one hard thing moving against another
hushed – a sound that is quiet
inaudible – a sound that is difficult to hear
monotonous – a sound that is always the same and never gets louder or quieter, or higher or lower
muffled – a sound that is not easy to hear because it is blocked by something
plaintive – a sound that has a sad quality
rhythmic – a sound that has a clear, regular pattern
staccato – a sound where each word or sound is clearly separate

Describing Pleasing Sounds

dulcet – soft and pleasant
lilting – a sound that has a rising and falling pattern
listenable – easy to listen to
mellow – a soft, smooth, pleasant sound
melodic – beautiful sound
musical – sounds like music
pure – a clear, beautiful sound
rich – a sound that is strong in a pleasant way
soft – quiet and peaceful
sonorous – a sound that is deep and strong in a pleasant way
sweet – a pleasant sound

Describing Noisy Sounds

at full blast – as loudly as possible
almighty – used for emphasising how loud something is
brassy – a sound that is loud and unpleasant
deafening – a sound so loud you cannot hear anything else
ear-splitting – extremely loud
explosive – a sound that is loud and unexpected
howling – a continuous, low, loud noise
insistent – a continuous, loud, strong noise
loud – a sound that is strong and very easy to hear
noisy – a sound that is full of noise
percussive – a sound that is short, like someone hitting a drum
piercing – a sound that is very loud, high, and unpleasant
pulsating – strong, regular pattern
raucous – rude, violent, noisy
resounding – a sound that is loud and that continues for a while
riotous – lively and noisy
roaring – a deep, loud noise
rowdy – noisy and causing trouble
sharp – a sound that is sudden and loud
shrill – a sound that is loud, high, and unpleasant
thundering – extremely loud
thunderous – loud
tumultuous – a sound that includes noise, excitement, activity, or violence
uproarious – extremely noisy

Words That Help You Show And Not Tell

babble – a gentle, pleasant sound of water as it moves along in a river
bang – to move, making loud noises
beep – a short high sound or several short high sounds
blare – to make a loud and unpleasant noise
blast – to make a loud sound with a car horn
bleep – a short high sound or several short high sounds
boom – to make a deep loud sound that continues for some time
caterwaul – an unpleasant loud high noise
chime – a high ringing sound like a bell or set of bells
chink – a high ringing sound when knocked together, or to make something do this
clack -to make a short loud sound like one hard object hitting against another
clang – a loud, metallic sound
clank – a short, loud sound
clash – a loud, metallic sound
clatter – a series of short, sharp noises
click – a short sound like the sound when you press a switch
clink – to make the short high sound of glass or metal objects hitting each other, or to cause objects to make this sound
cluck – to make a short, low sound with your tongue
crash – a sudden loud noise, as if something is being hit
creak – if something creaks, especially something wooden, it makes a high noise when it moves or when you put weight on it
drone – to make a low continuous noise
fizz – a soft sound that small gas bubbles make when they burst
groan – a long, low, sound
growl – a low, unpleasant noise
grunt – to make a short low sound in your throat and nose at the same time
gurgle – the low sound water makes when it is poured quickly from a bottle
honk – to make a loud noise using a horn, especially the horn of a car
hoot – to make a short loud sound as a warning
mewl – crying with a soft, high sound
moan – a long, low sound
neigh – to make a high loud sound like a horse’s neigh
peal – if a bell peals, or if someone peals it, it makes a loud sound
peep – if a car’s horn peeps, it makes a sound
ping – to make a short high sound like the sound of a small bell
pipe – to make a very high sound, or to speak in a very high voice
pop – a sudden noise like a small explosion
putter – a short, quiet, low sound at a slow speed
ring – to make a bell produce a sound
roar – to make a continuous, very loud noise
rumble – a continuous deep sound
scream – to make a very loud high noise
scream – to make a very loud high noise
screech – to make a loud, high, and unpleasant noise
scrunch – to make a loud noise like something being crushed
sigh – a long, soft, low sound
squeak – to make a short, high noise
squeal – to make a long high sound
squee – to make a loud high noise because you are excited or happy
thrum- to make a low regular noise like one object gently hitting another many times
thud – a dull sound when falling or hitting something
thump – to hit against something with a low loud sound
tinkle – to make a high, ringing sound
wail – to make a long, high sound
wheeze – a high sound, as though a lot of air is being pushed through it
whine – a high, loud sound
whirr – a fast, repeated, quiet sound
whisper – to make a quiet, gentle sound
whistle – to make a high sound by forcing air through your mouth in order to get someone’s attention
yelp – a short, loud, high sound, usually caused by excitement, anger, or pain
yowl – a long, loud, unhappy sound or complaint

Writing sound is a fun process that adds depth and life to prose. Becareful not to overdo it, though. We should make sure sounds make sense, have a purpose, and relate to our writing. In more serious genres, less is better. Poetry and inane novels (like Dr. Seuss) can get away with it more.

Thanks for reading, and Happy New Years!

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